40 minutes ago, Spirit of the Demon said:

One question that doesn’t seem to have been resolved is whether the setback is the one that was noted on Demonland on Monday as a “tight spot” and from which he had already returned to some light work including kicking with either foot on Wednesday or whether it’s something new altogether?

 If the media are relying on Demonland for their news, then they’re behind the times.

Reckon you've nailed it and it's week old news. The article was very light on for detail and only said it was a minor calf problem.

I am in the 'Happy we got him camp". 

Atm it's a bit hit and miss if his body is up too the rigours of AFL. Time will tell. If he only plays the last six games for Casey, I'd still be happy we gave him a chance.Looking on the bright side, if he can get through this year (If he gets on list to begin with), we can look forward to him doing a full pre season in 2021.Staying fit from there onwards, we get maybe 3 years service from him (be approx 32 yrs).

I not at all fussed about HB taking the spot of a rookie, Bennell CAN play when fit, a rookie ... who knows his outcome.

Gee what a bonus if he can get himself right, along with Langdon using their pace will be a sight to behold.

It's his last chance to play AFL, I hope he succeeds wearing a red and blue jumper. Just give him a go. Lets see how it pans out.

Ran into Harley at the Australian Open yesterday, briefly. Stopped and asked “mate how’s the calf?” And he indicated that he was right, confident and it was nothing major. I told him that Dees fans were behind him and pulling for him. “Cheers” he said. And I was on my way.

unlikely tht he would give some random bloke much, but you can digest that as you wish. Although I have a few connections at the MFC, I have no knowledge of Bennell’s situation and had never met him before yesterday. 

1 hour ago, DemonOX said:

You are always going to get ur [censored] heads but the event would be monitored and such lovely people would be asked to leave by other influential type of people. 
 

it wouldn’t happen much if there was a no tolerance to [censored] heads. 

They were monitored and there was security there at all times but the players had a gutful of copping the abuse.

For the last few years a couple of  injured players come into the redlegs area prior to the game and questions are asked of them by one of the redlegs committee personal.

Edited January 25, 20205 yr by drysdale demon
more detail

2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Is there anything stopping another club with a free list spot (if there are any) offering Bennell a contract now? I'm not suggesting that there is one out there ready to pounce. I'm just curious about how the sysem works. 

Pre-season its we choose him, he chooses us he can train in preparation and if both parties agree we pick him up directly. Mid season draft we would need to hope any team lower than us with a selection did you choose him. Unclear whether he would be allowed to train with us if we dont take him in March.

9 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

Pre-season its we choose him, he chooses us he can train in preparation and if both parties agree we pick him up directly. Mid season draft we would need to hope any team lower than us with a selection did you choose him. Unclear whether he would be allowed to train with us if we dont take him in March.

I would imagine it is a done deal and both parties have committed to each other. He wont be on a lot of money this season and he wont be pushed with playing until he is right. If he cant get on the field by the end of the season it would probably be ended.

It is worth the risk, as he is a real talent who has a serious injury, that could be overcome and ten you have a very good player for nothing. If it doesn't work, it is like delisting a rookie who didn't make it.

11 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

West Coast Eagles style rumour?

i think Bennell is a free agent, uncontracted, but with a agreement to us.   Others could come sniffing, if he was flying.

Including all the rookies,  up to 20 players (or more) won't be at the club after the completion of the 2021 season ... so have a look at the complete list and see if you can come up with the 20.  Of course,  a lot has to play out yet but the numbers don't lie.  And it is not really about identifying the 20 ... more so about recognising the actual numbers.

It's like the bust rate with drafting ... over 40% for first round picks.  In baseball the bust rate is 75% for first round draft picks.  In the NFL the bust rate is 40%+ for first round picks and the draftees are 21-22 years old with 4 years of College football behind them.

Including the rookies,  in one 2 year stretch during the Roos era over 25 players were dispensed with.  Why?  Because there just isn't the available talent available so therefore the lists need to be constantly churned over. 

So why be so concerned with the equivalent of 1 rookie spot where the impact on the salary cap is negligible anyway?

The usual suspects here are jumping at shadows with their over-the-top comments (or perhaps they have a hidden agenda)

The value of 1 spot on the list is overrated anyway ... the real issue is getting to a point where the club has 25 bona-fide AFL standard footballers on the list.

Bennell is definitely worth the punt as at least we know the bloke has some untapped talent ... the last 10-12 players on the list are often devoid of real talent ... they are often just making up the numbers.

How many top players are in the league in totality?  100?  120? 

And there are close to 900 players in the system.  There are hundreds that fall short every season.  And hundreds of not-so-good players are kept on lists because there aren't any decent alternatives.

 

Edited January 26, 20205 yr by Macca

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

I would imagine it is a done deal and both parties have committed to each other. He wont be on a lot of money this season and he wont be pushed with playing until he is right. If he cant get on the field by the end of the season it would probably be ended.

It is worth the risk, as he is a real talent who has a serious injury, that could be overcome and ten you have a very good player for nothing. If it doesn't work, it is like delisting a rookie who didn't make it.

He has always been a "Hail Mary" shot, taking the punt at little cost was probably worth it. We will know shortly if it has been worth it.

29 minutes ago, old dee said:

He has always been a "Hail Mary" shot, taking the punt at little cost was probably worth it. We will know shortly if it has been worth it.

There are any number of other Hail Mary 'Shots' every season old dee. 

Even a top 10 pick is a speculative pick as there are any number of high school age kids who just can't make the transition to AFL football.  And trading for established talent can often be problematic too in terms of injury (or otherwise) 

Clark,  Lumumba,  Lever & May have all had their issues.  And that's just our club.

Can anyone guarantee that Weideman,  Jackson & Pickett won't be busts?  Now,  I am not at all intimating that any of the 3 are going to be busts but the possibility is definitely there.

It's draft them and then hold your breath.

By comparison,  Bennell is just another (in a long line) speculative pick. 

I just don't see the big deal (at all)

Edited January 26, 20205 yr by Macca

1 hour ago, old dee said:

He has always been a "Hail Mary" shot, taking the punt at little cost was probably worth it. We will know shortly if it has been worth it.

Not sure we will know "shortly", it might be a while.

15 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Not sure we will know "shortly", it might be a while.

The first stop as I understand it is for him to be added to the list. Which I believe is next month. That is short term to me Mr Leg!

1 hour ago, Macca said:

There are any number of other Hail Mary 'Shots' every season old dee. 

Even a top 10 pick is a speculative pick as there are any number of high school age kids who just can't make the transition to AFL football.  And trading for established talent can often be problematic too in terms of injury (or otherwise) 

Clark,  Lumumba,  Lever & May have all had their issues.  And that's just our club.

Can anyone guarantee that Weideman,  Jackson & Pickett won't be busts?  Now,  I am not at all intimating that any of the 3 are going to be busts but the possibility is definitely there.

It's draft them and then hold your breath.

By comparison,  Bennell is just another (in a long line) speculative pick. 

I just don't see the big deal (at all)

I am not saying it is a big deal Macca, I just think the whole idea of him making a successful return is low.

4 hours ago, old dee said:

I am not saying it is a big deal Macca, I just think the whole idea of him making a successful return is low.

Fair enough but there are about 15-20 current players on the list who need to prove themselves as bona-fide AFL players.

And I'm being conservative because the number is probably a lot higher

So I put Bennell in with about 25 - 30 others on our list.  The focus needs to be widespread rather than about 1 bloke. 

But I suppose Bennell is the 'news' to many but if you,  me or anyone else were involved at the club,  we'd just see him as another unproven prospect along with numerous others

It would be different if the bloke was signed to a long term contract on big money.  But that is not the case ... quite the opposite in fact.

Edited January 26, 20205 yr by Macca

20 minutes ago, old dee said:

The first stop as I understand it is for him to be added to the list. Which I believe is next month. That is short term to me Mr Leg!

He will be added to the list come what may, it is obviously a done deal. They are clearly going to give him this year to get it right.

33 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Not sure we will know "shortly", it might be a while.

..so the thinking thinking is, the longer the better he is on our list......

10 minutes ago, Macca said:

but if you,  me or anyone else was involved at the club,  we'd just see him as another uuproven prospect along with numerous others

 

Correct.

3 minutes ago, willmoy said:

..so the thinking thinking is, the longer the better he is on our list......

No, but rather I think we will have promised him this year to get right.

If he is no better by the end of the season, I am pretty confident he won't be with us in 2021.

2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

No, but rather I think we will have promised him this year to get right.

If he is no better by the end of the season, I am pretty confident he won't be with us in 2021.

An added interest for all, along with my favourite reporters, to be close to the Magoos this season, perhaps...

19 hours ago, hemingway said:

Such a romantic Ron.

I’d had a few beers.

 

20 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Your version of “prime” is a little different to mine. 

I wish Harley all the best but not sure the Dees are in the position to be taking risks. 2 games in 5 years....I agree with Mel Bourne.

2 hours ago, Redleg said:

Not sure we will know "shortly", it might be a while.

Actually it Is March Mr Leg.

Sign him up anyway. Its a lot less risk than signing a cooked KK for 3 years on much more coin. He's unbelievably talented. 

12 minutes ago, TheoX said:

Sign him up anyway. Its a lot less risk than signing a cooked KK for 3 years on much more coin. He's unbelievably talented. 

If he cannot get on the park he is of no use!

The time line of the prospect of Harley joining us ran pretty much parallel with the prospect of drafting Jack Martin. We didn't appear to make much of an effort to convince Martin that we had the draft pick and he wold play with us or no one.A bit like North and Carlton over Keith Greig .Instead the club dismissed the drafting of Martin rolled out Harley as a substitute and people got excited .Now the overwhelming consensus seems to be that it was unlikely that Harley would ever play anyway .That consensus is well justified and I concur with it .But we cannot say that all we lost was a potential rookie list player .What we lost was an absolutely fortuitous opportunity to snag not some rookie listed player but a genuinely good fit footballer .Harley was just the soft option .